MLB Targets: May 24th

We’ve got a bit of a weird slate for you this Wednesday, with only 10 games on the late slate with a bunch of afternoon action. Limited options will lower your margin for error, so going with chalk when it makes sense, well, makes sense. Don’t get cute. Chalk it up.

Pitcher

Stud

Chris Sale — BOS vs. TEX — $13,500 – Let’s take a minute to appreciate Sale despite the uniform he wears. Since striking out only (yes, only) seven batters in his season debut, Sale has gone eight straight starts with double-digit Ks. He’s failed to pitch into the seventh inning in just one of his nine starts and the Rangers likely won’t touch him on the road. Texas is batting .227 with a .371 slugging percentage vs. LHPs this season. He’s tough to go against.

Other Options: Charlie Morton ($8,600), Kyle Hendricks ($8,500)

Value

Robert Gsellman — NYM vs. SD — $6,200 – I’m willing to consider Gsellman because, well, the Mets are facing the Padres at home. Following a seven-game skid, New York has won three of four, scoring 24 runs over that stretch. San Diego’s offense has scored over three runs only once in the last seven games. I mean, Michael Conforto should be enough to get Gsellman a win, at the very least.

Other Options: Erasmo Ramirez ($5,600)

Catcher

Stud

Salvador Perez — KC vs. NYY — $3,900 – Perez has been the Royals’ best hitter so far this season, leading the team in HRs (11), RBI (28) and OPS (.862). He has four HRs over his last 10 games, one of which came at Yankee Stadium a week earlier. New York SP Luis Severino has allowed five HRs with a 5.09 ERA in 23.0 IP at home this season.

Other Options: Matt Wieters ($3,600)

Value

Yadier Molina — STL vs. LAD — $2,900 – Molina is a prime value play vs. LHP Rich Hill in the late game on the late slate. So far this season, Molina is batting .308 with a HR and four RBI vs. left-handed pitchers. Regardless of the matchup, Molina is on a 12-game hitting streak and is still conveniently priced for any type of contest your heart desires.

Other Options: Cameron Rupp ($3,100)

First Base

Stud

Mark Reynolds — COL vs. PHI — $4,500 – The Rockies would normally prefer to hit at Coors Field, but their second choice would most likely be Citizens Bank Park in Philly. They’ve scored eight runs in back-to-back games vs. the Phillies, and though Reynolds hasn’t factored into that much, he should Wednesday vs. Jeremy Hellickson, who has the highest SIERA (5.49) among SPs. Reynolds is due to go yard.

Other Options: Miguel Cabrera ($4,600), Hanley Ramirez ($4,600)

Value

John Jaso — PIT vs. ATL — $3,000 – Jaso is on a five-game hitting streak, with doubles in back-to-back and a HR and four RBI during that stretch. Braves’ SP Julio Teheran was shelled in his previous start at home (9 ER in 3.0 IP), so he was pushed back in the rotation. Jaso is a great cash-game option; he has at least five DKFP in eight of his past nine games.

Other Options: Wilmer Flores ($3,300), Luis Valbuena ($3,200)

Second Base

Yangervis Solarte — SD vs. NYM — $2,800 – Alright, so Gsellman is an OK value play, but he’s also prone to allowing a ton of hits. Should the latter happen, and if Solarte is in the Padres’ lineup, there is a good chance he’ll look like the player from last season. Solarte has shown signs that he’s turning things around with hits in four of six games.

Third Base

Stud

Kris Bryant — CHC vs. SF — $5,100 – Your options at 3B on the late slate are very limited, so rolling with Bryant or Nolan Arenado ($5,200) seems inevitable. Bryant rakes against left-handed pitchers, batting .344 with four HRs and 10 RBI in only 32 ABs. He’ll likely have high ownership, but he is the clear-cut top play tonight.

Other Options: Joey Gallo ($4,000), Anthony Rendon ($3,700)

Value

Wilmer Flores — NYM vs. SD — $3,300 – Again, limited resources here, so we’re going to have a bit of overlap in the recommendations. Flores has dual eligibility at 1B and 3B and has been solid in his past five games, batting .444 with three runs and a pair of RBI. His season average is nearly up to .300, and he’s a steady option despite limited power numbers.

Other Options: Daniel Robertson ($2,500)

Shortstop

Stud

Xander Bogaerts — BOS vs. TEX — $4,700 – If Trevor Story ($4,500) wasn’t playing so miserably this season I’d opt for him vs. the Phillies, but he is, so let’s go with Bogaerts here. In his past 29 plate appearances, Bogaerts has seven runs, four RBI and has a .438 BABIP. Rangers SP Martin Perez (3.71 ERA) may look decent on paper but has had an extremely friendly schedule thus far.

Other Options: Javier Baez ($3,900), Didi Gregorius ($3,800)

Value

Alexi Amarista — COL vs. PHI — $2,800 – Amarista has grossly outperformed Story for the Rockies, batting .379 on the season thanks to four multi-hit outings in his past six games. Amarista is batting .556 with a HR, six runs and seven RBI during that stretch.

Other Options: Tim Beckham ($2,900), Erick Aybar ($2,300)

Outfield

Stud

Aaron Judge — NYY vs. KC — $5,000 – The Judge has been quiet over the last 10 games, belting just two solo HRs. Luckily for him, Jason Hammel is on the mound at Yankee Stadium, having allowed six HRs in his past four starts, including two to the Yanks in his previous start. Despite no HRs or RBI vs. KC this season, Judge is still averaging 7.4 DKFP in five games.

Other Options: Charlie Blackmon ($5,600), Michael Conforto ($4,900)

Value

Brett Eibner — LAD vs. STL — $2,000 – With the chances of Joc Pederson being out of the lineup tonight, Eibner should be a lock to start in the OF. He’s played well in limited action for the Dodgers since being recalled, batting .313 with two HRs and six RBI in 16 ABs. Mike Leake has been pitching worse than his ERA (2.03) would suggest considering his 3.18 FIP.

Other Options: Magneuris Sierra ($2,300)

I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is bzweiman521) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above.

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Jacob deGrom • SP • NYM

Jacob deGrom continues late surge for Cy Young

Last season, deGrom ($11,500) ran away with the National League Cy Young. He had a historic season and his 1.70 ERA was one of the best marks in the history of the league. That kind of performance is tough to replicate, but he's been on the mark since the All-Star break. He has a sub 2.00 ERA in the second half of the season and has allowed two or fewer earned runs in 11 of his 13 starts. Tonight's performance was one of his best of the year. Pitching against the Dodgers, the best team in the National League, deGrom worked seven shutout innings and tallied eight strikeouts. He finished with 29.35 DKFP and could be on his way to back to back Cy Young Awards.

Eduardo Rodriguez strikes out 12 in pitchers' duel

Rodriguez ($10,300) went back-and-forth dueling with Aaron Nola ($9,500) tonight. Both allowed just a single run and the game came down to the bullpens. Neither starter got a decision although Rodriguez had the edge in the department we care about, fantasy points. The dozen strikeouts for E-Rod are a season-high and he scored 33.4 DKFP even though he didn't get the win bonus. On the other side of the game, Nola was no slouch. He pitched seven innings, striking out nine batters against a potent Boston offense and scored 27.55 DKFP. The lose for Philly was costly and moves it 3.5 games out of the final Wild Card spot. The Phillies need a near-flawless finish to the season to clinch a playoff birth.

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